When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More

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In 2013, when Catharine Clark moved her eponymous gallery from 49 Geary to the Potrero Hill area, she gave herself more room to work with, including a dedicated media space that has shown indelible work by such artists as Shalo P ("The Bedroom Suite"), Nina Katchadourian ("In a Room Full of Strangers"), and Andy Diaz Hope and Jon Bernson ("Beautification Machines").

There's no secret to helping you focus better — unless you count Adderall — but studies have shown that listening to music before or while performing a task can improve attention, memory, and even your ability to perform mental math.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

It's supposed to work like this: Artists put their music up for streaming on YouTube, the site sells (annoying) ads around the content, and then splits the revenue with the artist according to some predetermined formula.

So how much does YouTube owe artists? The site says it pays tens of millions of dollars to the music industry each month. But for some, like classic Bay Area punk band the Dead Kennedys, that math seems a little fuzzy.

Deep in a recent NPR story about YouTube's popularity as a music-streaming site is this nugget: The Kennedys' guitarist, East Bay Ray, says the band's video's have been streamed more than 14 million times on YouTube -- with ads. But, he says, the band has only seen "a few hundred dollars" in payment on that.

"I don't know -- and no one I know knows -- how YouTube calculates the money," he says. Pepperell says the band has been in talks with YouTube, and the company told the musicians that the site takes 45 percent of ad revenue generated by their videos. But, he says, YouTube won't tell them how much that is.

"What YouTube claims is irrelevant until they produce how much they've made off my band and how much they've shared with my band," he says. "Don't let them bull s- - - you that it's too complicated."

A few hundred dollars on 14 million streams? That seems absurd.

The guitarist goes on to say that he's seen his income decline by half in the last couple of years.

Other artists quoted in the same story who have had success with YouTube -- like OK Go -- say the site simply isn't a money-maker, and that artists need to branch out to selling MP3s and licensing deals in order to make money.

But still: We'd like to know what YouTube's math looks like here, and we bet the Dead Kennedys do, too.

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Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"